A local court in Madurai has issued arrest warrants against Bollywood actresses Shilpa Shetty and Reema Sen in connection with the publication of their 'obscene' pictures in a Tamil eveninger.

City Judicial Magistrate Elangovan has directed the Mumbai police commissioner to arrest the actresses as early as possible and produce them in court.

Dakshninammorthy, a city based advocate, had filed a case against the actresses, and Murugan, the editor of Tamil Murasu, for publication of the 'obscene' pictures, thus violating laws including Section 109 of the Indian Penal Code (Indecent representation of women), Prevention of Publication of Obscene Pictures Act and Section 3 of the Young Persons (Harmful Publications) Act.

The advocate contended the pictures 'polluted the minds of young people' and demanded action against the actresses and the publisher.

The actresses should have appeared in court on June 2, as per the non-bailable warrant issued by the court on March 10. They were then asked to appear on Tuesday with a warning that arrest warrants would be issued against them otherwise.

The actresses, through their lawyers, contended that they were not in a position to come to the court as they were busy shooting. They also claimed that they were not aware of the pictures published in the eveninger without their permission.